Meet Our Team

My name is Angela Pereira. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. I am a proud US Air Force Veteran and mother. I graduated from Grand Canyon University and obtained my bachelor's in Early Childhood Education. I have been an educator for six years. It is an honor to be a part of Dorothy Hall Elementary School’s amazing team this year. I have had the great experience of teaching English language learners for four years and have witnessed great student success. I enjoy learning and facilitating the AVID philosophy and implementing its strategies into my classroom. I instill the qualities of hard work, discipline, good decision making and always putting your best foot forward in all of my students. I am committed to helping children discover their talents and become the future citizens of our community. I believe all children can succeed! No exceptions!

Hi there! My name is Jennifer Raitter and I will be teaching first grade this year. I graduated from Northern Arizona University in May of 2020, with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a minor in early childhood education. I am an AVID certified teacher with experience as an AVID tutor. My passion is teaching students to become creative and divergent thinkers. I loved my experience as a student-teacher at Dorothy Hall Elementary school and I am very excited to begin my teaching journey here.

“One is never so tall as when one reaches down to help a child”- Unknown

Hi! My name is Hanna Dafoe and I am thrilled to be a part of the Dorothy Hall Elementary staff this upcoming school year! I graduated from ASU in May 2019 with a business communications degree and a minor in nonprofit leadership and management. The following year I continued my schooling and received a certification in elementary education. I know that teaching is my calling, and I am very excited to be starting my career at Dorothy Hall! I believe in creating a healthy and safe atmosphere for all students where they can learn in a nurturing and stimulating environment. I want my students to feel included, heard, understood, respected, and be able to come to class and feel excited to be there. I am very much looking forward to the upcoming year where we will learn and grow together!

My name is Sondra Hieber and I am excited to be a part of the Dorothy Hall family. I received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Northern Arizona University. I have a true passion for working with our young learners! Helping each child progress in all areas of their development- academics, social, language, and motor skills is a challenge I am honored to accept daily. I strive to create a community of learners that nurtures this growth in a positive and fun environment.

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B. King

Hi! My name is Morgan Lee, and I am excited to be joining the 3rd-grade team at Dorothy Hall. I am a born and raised Yuma. I received a dual major from Northern Arizona University in Elementary Education and Special Education. Before this adventure, I taught at Mary A. Otondo for 4 ½ years and then a virtual academy for one year. My goal is for all students to achieve success and I am looking forward to helping each one of them do that. 

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

Hello Innovators! My name is Jonathan Bailey and I am so excited to be teaching at Dorothy Hall Elementary for the 2022–2023 school year. I have a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University and am pumped to be teaching fourth and fifth-grade science. Ever since third grade, I have wanted to be a teacher and make a difference in the lives of others. I wholeheartedly believe that all students have the potential to be great and do great things. I am AVID certified and will do my best to create lessons that are engaging and project-based. I have a passion for ensuring that each child knows that they matter and that their voices will be heard. While I know that academic learning is important, I also value teaching to the whole child. Every student is capable of success, no exceptions!

“Everyone you ever meet knows something you don’t.” - Bill Nye the Science Guy

Hello there! My name is Carla Brewer, and I am excited to be a part of Dorothy Hall Elementary school this year. I have a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University, and I am excited for my first group of Innovators. I am thrilled to be teaching fourth and fifth grade English and language arts (ELA) this school year. I am passionate about education, and I believe that every student deserves the best learning environment and experience while in school. Not only do I want my students to grow academically, but individually as well. There is so much for every student to accomplish, and I am dedicated to help any student do just that. Most importantly, I believe that all kids are capable of success! Hero up!

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” - Aristotle

Hi! My name is Paul Flores IV. I’ve had the pleasure of working with children for 17 years in both California and Arizona. I’m so excited to be teaching here at Dorothy Hall and working with all of you. I am a strong supporter of family, teacher, and school teamwork as I believe it is one of the keys to the children’s success. I can’t wait to get to know each child’s unique personality and interests so that I can bring in more resources that will intrigue their curiosity. I’m all about learning through hands-on, fun activities that challenge us to think critically, work collaboratively, and express ourselves beyond our limits. Let’s make this a year worth remembering!

Hello! My name is Saraka Smith, and I am thrilled to be a part of Dorothy Hall Elementary! I am a native San Diegan who moved to Yuma, Arizona two and a half years ago. I am a first year, fourth, and fifth grade teacher and very much look forward to creating a safe, healthy, educational space for these wonderful, talented young minds to flourish! I graduated from San Diego City College in 2016 with two associate’s degrees in social and behavioral sciences as well as language arts and humanities. In 2019, I graduated from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) with a bachelor’s degree in global health. I have a passion for innovative learning and am ready to help shape innovative young minds. Each child has their own unique style of learning, and it is my mission to foster that style so that they may continue to grow into productive, well-rounded individuals making this world a little brighter each day! We are all in this together and with positivity, hope, and communication, the sky is the limit for all of our innovators!

“I’m a believer in the power of knowledge and the ferocity of beauty, so from my point of view, your life is already artful - waiting, just waiting for you to make it art.” - Toni Morrison

Hi! My name is Carol Bickford, and I am very much looking forward to a fantastic year as the counselor at Dorothy Hall Elementary School.

I started out in education as a 5th-grade teacher and then a middle school English teacher prior to earning my Masters in Education Degree in school counseling at NAU Yuma. After my graduation, I also served as an adjunct professor in the School Counseling Program here at NAU. I have participated in Kids at Hope for a number of years, and I have received training in the AVID Program and Capturing Kids’ Hearts.

I do believe that all children are capable of success, and I believe that it is my role, as a school counselor, to help them along that road to a successful future! I work with students both individually and in groups to promote academic motivation in addition to addressing other important areas such as developing a growth mindset, self-regulation of behaviors, and, basically, just believing in oneself. It is my goal to be available to every student and family that I may be able to help, either personally or by guidance to the appropriate outside sources.

Please never hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for the privilege!

“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” Anthony Robbins

Hello, my name is Christina Fisher. I am so excited to join the team at Dorothy Hall Elementary as a Reading Interventionist. I graduated from San Diego State in 2003 with my bachelor's in liberal studies. In 2020 I earned my Master’s degree in reading with an emphasis in elementary education from Grand Canyon University. 

I have been in Yuma teaching first grade for over 17 years. Over the past few years, I developed a passion for wanting to help children more who are struggling with reading. Pursuing this passion led me to work hard for a master’s degree. This way I can focus on targeting students in small reading groups to help them reach their goals. All children have the potential to learn. I cannot wait to begin this journey as an interventionist to help fill in the gaps and help children become better readers. 

“If you don’t like what you read, you haven’t found the right book.” – J.K. Rowling

Hello! My name is Marsha Gomez. I am excited to join the wonderful team at Dorothy Hall. I have been teaching at Yuma District One since 2018. I received my bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in sociology at Northern Arizona University. I am currently working on my teaching certification at Pima Community College. I have a passion for embracing Autism! This class is committed to creating an environment where your child is a valued, trusted, integral part of our family of learners!